SSMJ May 2018

Editorials

Guinea Worm: the final push to eradication in South Sudan

The world is getting closer to eradicating Guinea worm, which will join the only other disease to be eradicated in the world – small pox. Although South Sudan cannot sleep on its laurels for now as it enters the pre-certification phase, the news that it has interrupted the transmission is one that must be applauded. Thanks to the relentless work of the hundreds of health workers on the ground, and the support of the global community.

News, Reports and Policy

Yei River State hospital in need of an ambulance

An official in the ministry of health and environment in South Sudan’s Yei River state says they are in dire need of an ambulance to handle emergency cases from around the state.

Grant Awards for 2018/2019 to South Sudan Sudanese postgraduate students by the Gordon Memorial College Trust Fund (GMCTF), London.

At the annual meeting of the Executive Committee of the GMCTF on 19th April 2018, a number of South Sudanese applicants for grants to support postgraduate studies in various Universities were awarded. The Grants were varied in nature and included support with living expenses or full support with tuition fees and living expenses.

How to Assess for Bilateral Pitting Oedema

This guidance show you how to assess for bilateral pitting oedema in children.

Clinical Guidance

Elimination of Guinea Worm Disease in South Sudan through multi-disciplinary actions

South Sudan is now in the pre-certification phase, having gone over sixteen months as of April 2018, with zero reports for cases of Guinea worm disease (GWD). The South Sudan Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (SSGWEP) mobilizes the efforts of thousands of communities, village volunteers, various government institutions and partners, to establish an extensive surveillance system for detection of GWD cases in post-war South Sudan. The Programme Director explains how South Sudan achieved the great fit despite the difficult circumstances.

Research

Chronic suppurative otitis media: bacteriology, susceptibility and clinical presentation among ENT patients at Mulago, Uganda

Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) is a major health concern in developing countries due to its association with hearing impairment, particularly among children as it may affect their communication skills. Serious complications like meningitis and brain abscess have been reported as a cause of death. The commonest isolates implicated in causation of CSOM in this study was Klebsiella pnuemoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, followed by Proteus mirabilis, E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Missed opportunities for immunization among children attending a Paediatric Outpatient Clinic at Juba Teaching Hospital

Immunization prevents child morbidity and mortality through the universal access to routinely recommended childhood vaccines. This study which aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with missed opportunities for immunization in South Sudan, found that Home delivery and failure to attend antenatal clinic were independently associated with MOI. Lack of information was the most common reason given by the caretakers for incomplete immunization.

Foetal macrosomia: risk factors, maternal and foetal outcomes in N’Djamena Mother and Child Hospital, Chad

Macrosomia is a birth weight above the 90th percentile corrected for gestational age and sex, or birth weight of 4000-4500g. This was a cross-sectional study showed that macrosomic neonates are more often delivered by Caesarean Section than normosomic babies. There is a clear need during prenatal care and delivery to minimise maternal and perinatal complications.

Case Reports

The value of early trimester ultrasound scanning: a case of congenital malformation from Kibaha, Tanzania

Abstract A case report of a mother presenting at 25 weeks pregnancy. An ultrasound scan suggested the size of the foetus to be about 32 weeks with indications of a malformation and hydrops foetalis. A balloon catheter followed by misoprostol given vaginally was used but labour did not progress satisfactorily. A Caesarean Section was carried out and confirmed the congenital abnormalities. The value of early obstetric ultrasonography is discussed. Keywords: early trimester sonography, foetal congenital anomaly, induction of labour, intracervical balloon catheter, misoprostol, Caesarian Section Introduction Early detection of congenital malformation using ultrasound among pregnant women living in low and medium limited-resource countries is uncommon [1]. Ultrasonography screening during antenatal visits has been observed to be important in the early detection of abnormalities and hence the need to plan appropriate management strategies [2, 3, 4]. This case report highlights the need to have at least one early trimester ultrasonographic examination.

Summaries

No documents found.